Charles b



(No Model.)

O, B. HEWITT & W. H. KIMBALL.

LOOK FOR FIRE ARMS, No. 243,894.

Patented July 5, 18 81.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. HEWlTT AND WILLIAM H. KIMBALL, OF BURLINGTON, N. J.

LOCK FOR FIRE-ARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,894, dated July 5,1881.

Application filed December 11, 1880 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES B. HEWITT andWILLIAM H. KIMBALL, both citizens of the United States, and residents ofBurlington, in the county of Burlington, State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Arms, which improvement isfully set forth in the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a top or plan view of the portion of afire-arm embodying ourinvention. Figs. 2 and 3 are side elevationsthereof in different positions. Fig. 4 is a vertical section in line atm, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

Our invention relates to improvements in a breech-loading fire-arm inwhich the tumbler or hammer may be locked independently of the movementrequired to open the breech-block or barrel and lowered under control ofthe holder of the weapon.

The invention consists of means for cooking and controlling theuncocking of the tumbler on the side of the stock opposite to thetrigger, thus insuring safety of the fingers of the holder of the weaponand allowing the triggerguard to be occupied only by the trigger.

It also consists of the tumbler, in combination with a connected leverhaving a tripping piece, whereby the operating-arm or plunger may bedisengaged from or cleared of said lever when so required.

It also consists in providing the plunger with means for holding it inlowermost position,

thus preventing it from projecting above the stock during sighting andfiring.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a space or chamber in the stock,at the rear of the breech, for the tumbler or hammer B and holding orlockin g sear G, the latter being adapted to be engaged by the triggerD, suitably piv= oted to the stock.

To aforwardly projectin g portion of the tumbler or hammer B isattacheda stud, D, which is passed through a slot, a, of aconnectingpiece, E, the upper end of which is pivoted to alongitudinally-extending lever, F, whose axis or axial pin or screw, 1),extends horizontally and transversely, the rear end of the lever havinga tripping-piece, F, which is forced down by a properly-connectedspring, 0.

G represents a guiding or tubular piece, which is secured within thestock at the rear of the lever F, it being noticed that the space A isextended sufficiently to receive the lever F and piece G, and the sideof the latter adjacent to said lever is vertically slotted, as at d, forthe reception of the end of the trippingpiece F of the lever.

H represents a plunger, which is fittedin the guide G and formed at itslower end with a foot, J, which enters and slides in the slot d, andwhen depressed with the plunger to full extent and the plunger isrotated to engage with a notch, 0, formed in the guide atone side of theslot at and communicating with it, the plunger may be prevented fromrising. A spring, f, is connected to the stock, and bears against thelever F at the end carrying the connecting-piece E for depressing saidend-=its normal position 5 and a spring, 9, is located in the guide G,and presses against the plunger H for elevating the latter when the footJ is released from the notch e.

The operation is as follows: Referring to Fig. 2, the plunger H is inthe act of being dc pressed, and bearing against the tripping-piece F ofthe lever F causes the elevation of the piece E, which, when to fullextent, throws back the tumbler or hammer B and causes its engagementwith the'sear O, and thus cocks the weapon. The plunger is now rotatedand its foot enters the not-ch 0, thus clearing the lever of said foot,whereby the lever immediately returns to its normal position, the partsbeing in position shown in Fig. 3, and the weapon may be discharged.After the dis charge the plunger H is again rotated, so that its footclears the notch e, and raised above the lever F, the tripping-piece Fyielding and permitting the foot to pass. Then the weapon may again becooked by depressing the plunger, the other operations being repeated.

Should it be desired to uncock the weapon, 5

hammer moves under the impulse of its spring the movement issufficiently restrained by gradually-yielding pressure of the thumb onthe head of the plunger to prevent forcible ac tion of the hammer.

The tumbler orhammer and the sear and connected mechanism may beduplicated for a double-barrel fire-arm, in which case the piece similarto piece E will be connected to the lever F and the duplicate triggerproperly disposed to act on the sear of the duplicate tumbler or hammer,itbeing noticed that only a singleleverF is necessary for the twotumblers or hammers.

It will also be seen that cocking and uncookin g of the Weapon by meansof the hand-operated plunger and connected mechanism are accomplishedindependently of the movements of opening or closing the breech-block orbarrel, and that the only parts of the cocking and firing mechanismexposed are the trigger and head of the plunger.

It will also be noticed that the plunger H and trigger D are on oppositesides of the stock. The plunger is not disturbed during the dischargingmotions of the hammer, and does not project during the sighting andfiring of the weapon. Furthermore, said plungeris removed from thetrigger and the fingers of the hand of the holder are not liable to bestruck, as is 00- o casioned in fire-arms where the cocking-piece islocated adjacent to the trigger.

We are aware that it is not new to cook and uncock the hammer or tumblerby mechanism independent of the movement of the breech- 5 block orbarrel, and therefore disclaim the same. M

Having thus described our inventionjwhat we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The tumbler B, stud D, connecting-piece E, and the cocking-lever F,in combination with the plunger H, provided with alug, J, and the guideG, longitudinally slotted to allow the up and down movement of said lug,and 45 notched to allow said lug to be turned laterally out of saidslot, substantially as set forth.

2. The plunger H, cocking-lever F, having a tripping-piece, and tumblerB, in combination with the slotted guide G, substantially asset 5oforth.

CHAS. B. HEWITT. WM. H. KIM BALL.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, W. F. KIROHER.

